Cape Town - Breaking their silence for the first time since her body was found at Spier Wine Estate, those closest to Susan Rohde poured their hearts out on Thursday and described the raw feelings her death had left.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, Rohde’s friends spoke to the Cape Argus about their disbelief - first at hearing she had committed suicide and then at the news her death had become a murder investigation and her husband Jason, former Sotheby’s Realty chief executive, was a suspect.
“It has absolutely shocked and rattled the community,” one said.
Another said friends were hurt by the manner in which Rohde had spent her last moments - regardless of whether she had been killed or whether she had taken her own life.
Since the funeral was held before her death became a murder investigation, it was almost as if they felt a second funeral was necessary.
“But it’s too late now,” one added.
The funeral was held at St Mary’s School, Waverley in Joburg on August 2 and the number of people present at the ceremony was testimony to Rohde’s popularity in the community.
About 1 000 family members and relatives attended and many of them had to move to the school hall because the chapel was full.
The overflow car park across the road from St Mary’s was also filled and the service was live streamed to the school hall.
Some mourners dressed in denim jeans and classic white shirts - Rohde’s signature style of dress - and others incorporated a touch of pink into their attire because it was her favourite colour.
Pink roses - her favourite flowers - were ordered for the service.
“It was a fittingly glamorous funeral for a glamorous lady,” one friend said.
Rohde’s friends described her as a kind-hearted and considerate woman.
“Once when we arrived in Plettenberg Bay late at night, she came to the house with dinner, juice, a bottle of wine and chocolate for our family at 10pm because she knew we would have missed the shops and the children would appreciate a wholesome meal,” one friend said.
Rohde was also described as a “doting” mother, who was “fiercely protective” of her children and wanted them to excel at everything.
“She adored her daughters to distraction,” the friend said.
She served on the Parent Teacher Association of her daughters’ school.
The 47-year-old worked as a primary school teacher at Brescia House School in Joburg where she taught Grades 3 and 4. Although she taught all subjects, she loved watching her pupils the most when she taught them mathematics.
“She was motivated by watching children respond to her. She was a motivator. Even with our children,” one friend said.
Rohde was also keenly interested in understanding people’s personalities and enjoyed observing people.
She also volunteered at the Hearts of Hope children’s home in Joburg.
She was a natural athlete and had already completed two Old Mutual Two Oceans half marathons and an ultra marathon.
They said she made an impact on everyone she met and it was hard not to love Rohde because of her infectious personality. “She was very warm and gave the tightest hugs ever,” one said.
Rohde had friends from various circles and “she kept her friends”.
She often sent them inspirational quotes and spread around her infectious positivity.
One group - Rohde and three other mothers - called themselves the Fab Four. They were together for 12 years and often went on holidays together. They had regular chats on a WhatsApp group they had set up, she said.
But now that she has died, the group had unravelled.
Rohde’s husband was arrested last month and is accused of her murder.
He has, however, denied he killed her and has obtained the opinion of a pathologist, who concluded her injuries were consistent with suicide.
He was released on R1.1 million bail on Tuesday - R100 000 was payable immediately and the R1m balance has to be put up as surety by September 14.
He will appear in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court on September 23.
Cape Argus